#THE POLICE-FORCES (RESTRICTION OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1966 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Restrictions respecting right to form association, freedom of speech, etc. 
4. Penalty. 
5. Power to amend Schedule. 
6. Power to make rules. 
THE SCHEDULE. 



#THE POLICE-FORCES (RESTRICTION OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1966 

##ACT NO. 33 OF 1966 

[2nd December, 1966.] 

An Act to provide for the restriction of certain rights conferred by Part III of the Constitution in 
  their application to the members of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order 
  so  as  to  ensure  the  proper  discharge  of  their  duties  and  the  maintenance  of  discipline 
  among them. 

  BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventeenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. **Short title, extent and commencement.**—(1) This Act may be called the Police-Forces 
(Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 

(3) It shall come into force on such date as may be appointed in this behalf by notification in the 
Official Gazette,— 

  (a) in a Union territory, by the Central Government; and 

  (b) in a State by the Government of that State: 

  Provided  that  different  dates  may  be  appointed  by  the  Central  Government  for  different 
Union territories. 

2. **Definitions.**—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

  (a) “member  of  a  police-force”  means  any  person  appointed  or  enrolled  under  any  enactment 
specified in the Schedule; 

  (b) “police-force” includes any force charged with the maintenance of public order; 

  (c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

3. **Restrictions respecting right to form association, freedom of speech, etc.**—(1) No member of a 
police-force shall, without the express sanction of the Central Government or of the 
prescribed authority,— 

  (a) be  a  member  of,  or  be  associated  in  any  way  with,  any  trade  union,  labour  union,  political 
association or with any class of trade unions, labour unions or political associations; or 

  (b) be a member of, or be associated in any way with, any other society, institution, association or 
organisation that is not recognised as part of the force of which he is a member or is not of a purely 
social, recreational or religious nature; or 

  (c) communicate  with  the  press  or  publish  or  cause  to  be  published  any  book,  letter  or  other 
document except where such communication or publication is in the bona fide discharge of his duties 
or is of a purely literary, artistic or scientific character or is of a prescribed nature. 

*Explanation.*—If any question arises as to whether any society, institution, association or organisation 
is of a purely social, recreational or religious nature under clause (b) of this sub-section, the decision of 
the Central Government thereon shall be final. 

(2) No  member  of  a  police-force  shall  participate  in,  or  address,  any  meeting  or  take  part  in  any 
demonstration organised by any body of persons for any political purposes or for such other purposes as 
may be prescribed. 

4. **Penalty.**—Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall, without prejudice to any 
other action that may be taken against him, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both. 

5. **Power to amend Schedule.**—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette, amend the Schedule by including therein any other enactment relating to a force charged with the 
maintenance of public order or by omitting there from any enactment already specified therein and on the 
publication of the notification such enactment shall be deemed to be specified in, or as the case may be, 
omitted from, the Schedule. 

(2) A  copy  of  every  notification  issued  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be  laid  before  each  House  of 
Parliament, as soon as may be, after it is issued. 

6. **Power to make rules.**—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 
make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

(2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each 
House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one 
session  or [^1][in  two  or  more  successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid] both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. 



[^1]. Subs. by Act 4 of 1986, s. 2 and the Schedule, for certain words (w.e.f. 15-5-1986). 



###THE SCHEDULE 

*(See* sections 2 and 5) 

1. The Tamil Nadu District Police Act, 1859 (24 of 1859). 
2. The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) District Police Act, 1859 (24 of 1859). 
3. The Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861). 
4. The Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866 (Bengal Act 2 of 1866). 
5. The Calcutta Police Act, 1866 (Bengal Act 4 of 1866). 
6. The Bengal Police Act, 1869 (Bengal Act 7 of 1869). 
7. The Police Act, 1888 (3 of 1888). 
8. The Madras City Police Act, 1888. (Tamil Nadu Act 3 of 1888). 
9. The Bengal Military Police Act, 1892 (5 of 1892). 
10. The Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) District Police Act, 1329 Fasli (10 of 1329 F). 
11. The Eastern Frontier Rifles (West Bengal Battalion) Act, 1920 (Bengal Act 2 of 1920). 
12. The Police Act, 1983 (1927 A.D.) (J. & K. Act 2 of 1983). 
13. The Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli (9 of 1348 F). 
14. The Assam Rifles Act, 1941 (5 of 1941). 
15. The Orissa Military Police Act, 1946 (Orissa Act 7 of 1946). 
16. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946), 
17. The U.P. Pradeshik Armed Constabulary Act, 1948 (U.P. Act 40 of 1948). 
18. The Central Reserve Police Act, 1949 (66 of 1949). 
19. The Rajasthan Armed Constabulary Act, 1950 (Rajasthan Act 12 of 1950). 
20. The Bombay Police Act, 1951 (Bombay Act 22 of 1951). 
21. The Bombay State Reserve Police Force Act, 1951 (Bombay Act 38 of 1951). 
22. The Kerala Police Act, 1960 (Kerala Act 5 of 1961). 
23. The Mysore Police Act, 1963 (Mysore Act 4 of 1964). 
24. The Nagaland Armed Police Act, 1966 (Nagaland Act No. 6 of 1966).